The Importance of Living - Lin Yutang
Along with Pearl Buck, Lin enjoyed a vogue in the 1930s when many Americans were interested in our ally the Nationalist Chinese. Lin was not a philosopher but he interpreted Confucianism and Taoism in light, readable essays. Widely read in traditional literature, he translated many obscure Taoists and drunken poet-scamps so in this book, he includes wonderful passages on the Taoist good life that we English speakers won’t find anywhere else.
This book covers topics like fine living, reasonableness,
education, art, and wisdom in a refreshing way, though we post-moderns have to
be patient with regard to his views on gender and monumental silence about
social class. He doesn't provide a counter to the argument of, "Hey, what
if everybody listened to his inner layabout all the time? Where would society
be then? Buncha slackers! Huh?"
Lin's voice is humane and mildly dissenting. For instance, he writes
In this present age of threats to democracy and individual liberty, probably only the scamp and the spirit of the scamp alone will save us from becoming lost as serially numbered units in the masses of disciplined, obedient, regimented and uniformed coolies. The scamp will be the last and most formidable enemy of dictatorships. He will be the champion of human dignity and individual freedom, and will be the last to be conquered. All modern civilization depends entirely on him.
His thesis – that it is up to the individual to set his
own standards for enjoying life and find her own pleasures – brings to mind
Robert Graves' idea that "When people have lost their authentic personal
taste, they lose their personality and become the instruments of other people's
wills.
In the Taoist tradition, Lin says the point is not to “have a great philosophy
or have a few great philosophers” but rather it is “to take things
philosophically, to live in a way that makes life not only bearable but delightful.
Reading is key to enjoying life: “… [I]f one knows the
enjoyment of reading, one can study anywhere, even in the best schools.”
Also by Lin Yutang
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